1-11-12 —     The ASPIRE Center has opened under city-county management, and plans  

were recently announced for new youth basketball leagues.

    Monticello Mayor Jeffrey Edwards and County Judge-Executive Greg  

Rankin made the announcement last week regarding the ASPIRE Youth  

Basketball program, which will begin this month.

    Signups have been set for Thursday, January 12 at 5 p.m. and  

Saturday, January 14 at 10 a.m. at the ASPIRE Center. Forms and  

schedules will be available at both meetings.

    There will be a training division for children in kindergarten  

through second grade. Grades three and four and five and six will  

have their own separate leagues.

    The leagues are open to local children.

    "Our middle school, high school and adult open play nights have been  

very popular the past three years so this is just another step in  

offering our local youth a safe avenue for recreation," stated  

Rankin. "We are fortunate to have a staff member in office that has  

over 15 years experience in planning, scheduling and supervising  

programs like this. We think it's a great opportunity."

    The basis of all leagues will be participation, fun and fundamentals  

of the game in a compact eight-week session.

    The registration fee is $5 and all participants will receive a t-shirt.

    "We hope this is the first of several new opportunities that we can  

offer with the new agreement between the city and the county to  

operate the ASPIRE Center. Any time we can expand activities at a  

minimal cost, it's a good situation," said Edwards.

    All participants will be required to sign a waiver, agree to a basic  

set of rules and attend the two practices or games per week, whenever  

possible.

    Anyone with questions should plan on attending either of the  

meetings or contact Community Development at (606) 348-4241.